Spanning from the protest-fueled era of the 1970s to the complex 1990s, 'Eat the Document' by Dana Spiotta is a poignant exploration of activism, sacrifice, and the heavy cost of secrets. The novel follows the lives of Bobby DeSoto and Mary Whittaker, two impassioned radicals whose lives are irrevocably altered when a Vietnam War protest goes awry. Forced to erase their pasts and forge new identities separately, they leave behind a trail of nostalgia, mystery, and unresolved love. Two decades later, as Mary lives with her son, the repercussions of their youthful idealism and actions continue to echo, revealing the intertwined fate of personal lives and historical movements. Spiotta captures the zeitgeist of both eras, their distinct languages, technologies, music, and activism that shape our understanding of cultural rebellion.